The Cubs bullpen was getting another lights out performance, this time from some of their lesser-used relievers. 

Cody Bellinger spoiled the night with one swing of his bat. 

With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, the former MVP launched a walk-off, solo home run to give the Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Cubs on Saturday night in Los Angeles. 

The reliever corps of Brad Wieck, Rex Brothers, Dan Winkler and Keegan Thompson had pitched 4.2 innings of shutout ball before Bellinger’s home run. It spoiled an otherwise stout defensive performance from the Cubs. 

They showed a knack for escaping jams against the Dodgers. 

Willson Contreras picked off Chris Taylor at third base in the bottom of the 4th inning that ultimately saved a run against the Cubs. With runners on 1st and 3rd and pitcher Julio Urías up to bat, Contreras nabbed Taylor as he was retreating back to third. Urías singled on the next pitch, but Alec Mills induced a groundout to escape the jam. Mills admitted that he didn’t have his best stuff, but it was important for him to get those outs. 

Contreras leads MLB in catcher pickoffs since 2016 with 25.

Most catcher pickoffs since 2016

1. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 – 25
2. Y. Gomes – 14
3. M. Maldonado – 11
4. Y. Molina – 11
5. J. Realmuto – 11#CubTogether pic.twitter.com/NY1nHw6GBU

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 27, 2021

Mills wiggled his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the 3rd inning. With two outs in the inning, he induced a lineout to Gavin Lux to escape potential damage. For Mills it was important to limit the damage in those situations.

“Obviously didn’t have my best stuff today. Kind of was in and out of where it was going, to be honest with you,” Mills said. “I think, given the situation, to go 4 innings and only give up 2, for kind of the stuff I had and the command I had, was obviously a little bit of a success.”

The Dodgers had some success against Mills, collecting 8 hits and drawing 2 walks, but Mills was able to escape out of trouble time and time again. Mills, pitched 4 innings for the Cubs. The Dodgers were getting contact against Alec Mills at a high rate. Mills allowed eight hits, two walks, two runs, and struck out two through four innings. 

Heyward’s non-home run

Jason Heyward seemed to have given the Cubs a crucial late lead. 

Leading off the 7th inning, Heyward hit an opposite field line drive that was originally called a home run by third base umpire D.J. Reyburn. Home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs overturned him, ruling the ball foul and it was upheld on review. 

Here’s a relay of that Heyward non home run. Ball appears to get lost behind the foul pole from this angle. pic.twitter.com/lXGwq8U4JO

— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) June 27, 2021

Despite the huge implications of the overturned call, Heyward just viewed it as apart of the game.

“It was a good at-bat, a game of inches, centimeters, millimeters, I don’t know, I haven’t seen the replay yet.  We did a great job fighting,” Heyward said. 

Heyward singled later in the at-bat, but Sergio Alcántara grounded into a double play and the Cubs did not score. 

Other Notes

Nico Hoerner and Justin Steele will start rehab assignments in Iowa on Sunday, David Ross told reporters prior to Saturday’s game in Los Angeles. Hoerner has been on the IL since May 26 with a left hamstring strain. Steele was placed on the injured list on May 21 with a right hamstring strain.